VW Passat '97 CarPC

proTONEd · 11-06-2005, 05:46 PM

A few years ago it all started by stumbeling by this website.
The passion for a CarPC had taken hold of me, so what was I to do, besides building one?

Here you can find my first install.

A month or so, we decided to sell one of our cars. I still live with my folks, as is my brother. That resulted in having 4 cars for 4 people. But of those 4, one was standing still for about 90% of the time. So high time to save ourselves some money and sell one.

Of course the oldest one had to go. And that was my beloved Audi 80 of '87.
Actually I kind of regret it. It was really a fine car to drive and I have not had any serious problems with it.

While it was really a shame having to sell it, I did not really had to be disappointed. What I got in return was a VW Passat of '97, which was owned by my parents up until then.

Of course, I could not leave my "new" ride carputer-less.
Therefore I started moving my intall from my Audi to the VW.
A few modifications where done in the process. Which resulted in the following install:

Install

Car
- VW Passat '97 B5
- 1.9 TDI

PC
- VIA M10000 mini-itx mainboard
- 256 Mb RAM
- 40 GB 2,5" Laptop HD

Power supply
- M1-ATX

TFT
- Xenarc 700 TSV (7" TouchScreen VGA)

GPS
- Garmin GPS25-HVS (OEM GPS module )
- Garmin GPS antenne

Planned changes and TODO's
- Integrating the TFT into the dashboard.
- Working on the case, mounting it just below the upper part in my trunk. (trunk pic - the red rectangle)
- Cleaning up the cables in the trunk.

proTONEd · 11-06-2005, 05:51 PM

As a front-end I am using Frodoplayer.

I am working on a new skin for my personal use.
As a base I used the Audi MMI concept. I used only the screen layout for that purpose.
Because my skin would be controlled through a touchscreen instead of by buttons as the MMI is, it should behave quite different. Therefore I have not copied the MMI's behaviour.

The skin is not finished yet. The player, the OSK and SearchBy screens are finished. The rest is still to be done.
Here are some screenshots:

chadcj7 · 11-09-2005, 09:02 PM

how did you mount your screen? I think i am going to mount my something like that and i would like to see some pics if possible of how you did it?

StrataG · 11-09-2005, 09:18 PM

Just one question... where can I get some of what were you smoking when you created the OSK

All joking aside, looks good and I'm sure you'll have more fun with the screen versus your old setup. Good to see another mkiv on here too

proTONEd · 11-11-2005, 02:45 PM

At this moment the screen has been mounted on the standard Xenarc stand, which is included in the box. The bottom of the stand has been put in the small gap between the aircon unit and my HU. As simple as that.
If I have got the time, I'll try to make a picture tomorrow.

About the OSK layout, I live in Belgium. This is our standard keyboard layout. In most countries it is QWERTY, here it is AZERTY. Don't even ask why, it simply is...

So I changed it to my needs, the last thing I want is to be looking for a key on the OSK, while being in the car.
So about those smokes, sorry man, you'll have to find something else.

Spaghetti · 11-11-2005, 08:16 PM

Yeah, I've used keyboards like that before in France. Similar thing (i.e., not qwerty) - bloody infuriating!

raphizzz · 11-12-2005, 04:54 AM

hi proTONEd, nice project!
where in Belgium are you from?
i'm from Brussels maybe we could meet in our sunny Belgium one day.

proTONEd · 11-12-2005, 10:48 AM

As promised some pics of my current screen mount.

@ Spaghetti

Yeah I know, if you are used to one keyboard layout and know how to type blindly, it can get very frustrating.

@ raphizzz

I am from Bree - home of Kim Clijsters

Sunny: being sarcastic, are you?

Just kidding.
Well in most case I would prefer to do it over the weekend.
Any preference for you?

BoyNextDoor · 11-12-2005, 06:46 PM

Exact same way i had mine installed. Good to se another Passat on here... Good job. Now i wish i had a carpc in there so i could show you...

proTONEd · 11-13-2005, 06:41 AM

Yeah, well, I believe I got the idea from seeing your install here on the forum.
Luckily for me you had not patented it yet.

Just too bad, it is rather hard to adjust the aircon, but I must admit, it works quite nice.

Too bad you had to get rid of your install, now I can't steal any ideas anymore from you.
Just kidding. But at least you are still playing around with PC's and sorts.

MaVa_DK · 11-13-2005, 07:04 AM

Hi..

It looks great. Always pleased when I see a VW.

I also have a VW Passat with at carputer. The pictures is of my Lilliput screen that I have build into the original VW dashboard.

Sorry for the poor quality of the pictures. I also have a small movie of the carputer in use, but it is about 7,5 mb.

proTONEd · 11-13-2005, 07:33 AM

Hey MaVa_DK,

I really like the way you have moulded the screen into the dash.
How did you do this? Have you got some info/pics on that?

I was planning to mould my screen in dash as well.
Knowing that VW has an original faceplate for their OEM Nav, I thought it would be good idea to go and get one and modify it slightly.
At the dealer's they told me the price for it: € 140 (something around $150 ) without VAT.

Not really the price I was looking for...
Second problem: these types faceplates are rather rare as used parts, because the satnav is a rather expensive option.

Therefore I am kind of interested in how you made your faceplate.
Maybe I should add this as a remark. My aircon is located in the upperpart and on the bottom I have a little storage compartment. So I will have to alter the compartment to fit the aircon. I think this is going to be the difficult part.

davebateman · 11-13-2005, 08:52 AM

I commend you on your music choice! Bloom is very good!

Cris · 11-13-2005, 09:11 AM

Really sweet!

Have you finished the FP skin yet?
I'd sure like to have that in my car...

proTONEd · 11-13-2005, 12:22 PM

Thanks!

Sorry but I haven't been able to continue my work on the skin yet. As soon as I have progressed, I'll post an update in this thread.